NOTA an option in Council polls, will MLAs use it?

Bengaluru: For the first time MLAs voting in  the elections to the Legislative Council and Rajya Sabha, on June 10 and 11 respectively, will be able to exercise the  NOTA option, rejecting all contesting candidates, if they feel the need to.

Speaking to reporters here on Thursday, Assembly Secretary, N. Murthy, who is also the election officer for both polls, said the  NOTA column had been provided in the ballot paper, which would also  carry the photographs of the candidates.  “All electronic gadgets too have been banned inside the polling station,” he added.

Mr. Murthy said polling would be held on June 10 from 9 am to 4 pm  for  seven seats of the Council, and the results would be declared the same day.

As it would be a secret ballot, MLAs would  not to be required to show their ballot papers to the elections agents, and  if they did their vote would be declared invalid, he warned..

While the Congress has fielded Ms Veena Acchaiah, Mr Rizawan Arshad, Mr Allum Veerabhadrappa and Mr R.B. Thimmapura , the BJP has fielded Mr V. Somanna and Mr Lehar Singh  and the JD(S), Mr Narayanaswamy and Dr. Venkatapathy for the Council poll.

Elections to the Rajya Voting for ther Rajya Sabha pols in the state will be held on June 11 between 9 am and 4 pm. The election process will be completed by 5 pm and the results announced at 5.30 pm. Only 224 MLAs can caste their votes in this poll as the nominated member, Vinisha Nero does not have a voting right. All MLAs, other than  independents, will be required to show votes to the election agents.

Rajya Sabha polls
Voting for ther Rajya Sabha pols in the state will be held on June 11 between 9 am and 4 pm. The election process will be completed by 5 pm and the results announced at 5.30 pm. Only 224 MLAs can caste their votes in this poll as the nominated member, Vinisha Nero does not have a voting right. All MLAs, other than  independents, will be required to show votes to the election agents.